A costuming life in colour

Monthly Archives: September 2013

On Saturday my friends and husband threw me an awesome-mostly-a-surprise-party for my 30th birthday. I knew I was supposed to wear Victorian, but I didn’t know anything more than that. I had started this dress (knicknamed the Crazy Bird Lady Dress by Amanda) in 2011 for Belvidere and never gone back to it. By started I mean I made the underskirt and half of the bottom kick pleat, that’s it.

The party turned out to be in Laurel Hill Cemetery. A beautiful, huge, cemetery where the rich and more rich of Philadelphia were buried. We set up amongst the giant tombs in millionaire’s row. (Our tour guide said it is now called “Captains of Industry row” as idiots kept breaking in thinking the mausoleums were full of money…people are dumb).

I can report they’re still dead

The fashion plate that started it all

I had this ELECTRIC blue poly taffeta that was originally for something else but hadn’t gotten here in time. MadameKat showed me the above fashion plate and I was in love. Someday to make Amanda happy I’ll find a fake pigeon to hold and take a picture with.

My version

I have to say I’m very pleased with how it turned out. The most time consuming part was figuring out the math and making all the rhombus shapes around the skirt above the kick pleat. It’s just so FLUFFY and fun to wear.

We were in a beautiful location amongst Victorian monuments

you can’t see it but I’m wearing my new tiara

A group photo of the ladies

My friends came from far and wide to surprise me. And boy did they! Many in brand new dresses and all looking gorgeous. Sadly we had lost Adrienne by the time of the group photo as she wasn’t feeling well suddenly and needed to de-corset and oooh boy can I empathize.

Oh Myyyyy

It was a was a completely amazing way to ring in my 30s. I am very blessed with the amazing friends I have and I love them all dearly. Even those who couldn’t make it were felt and loved. They know me so well that almost all of my presents involved, orange, plaid or sparklies.